James Tedder, the fullback for the Cavaliers, acknowledges that with De Klerk's inclusion, the Cheetahs have morphed into a more formidable team compared to their previous encounters, which Boland had dominated.
"I think the Cheetahs are now a different team from when we beat them," Tedder told Netwerk24. "They’ve brought in a few good players and Faf is now with them. The Cheetahs like to play running rugby and Faf controls the game.
Tedder also emphasized the importance of Boland maintaining strong form defensively to counteract the Cheetahs' aggressive playing style.
Despite past successes against the Cheetahs, including a 34-24 win in the SA Cup and a tight 37-35 victory in the Currie Cup, Tedder insists that those outcomes won't necessarily predict future results. The focus remains on the current season and the forthcoming game.
The Cavaliers currently find themselves in a precarious position on the Currie Cup leaderboard, just narrowly ahead of the Pumas and closely followed by both the Cheetahs and Griquas. With only two more matches left in the league stage, each game could heavily impact their playoff aspirations.
Highlighting the importance of consistency in their performance, Tedder added a final strategic note:
"It won’t do to beat the Lions in Johannesburg but then not qualify for the semi-finals," Tedder said. "Our goal is to make it to the final and win the Currie Cup. So it doesn’t help to celebrate big wins if you don’t achieve your end goal."
With the Currie Cup's climax fast approaching, the Cavaliers are set to navigate these crucial matches with a clear aim of securing their involvement in the semi-finals, driven by not just talent but a strategic approach to each game.
